Celebrations in Gaujiena 2025

175th Anniversary of the New Castle of Gaujiena on August 15th and 16th

The New Castle of Gaujiena is a state-significant architectural monument. It is a building associated with personalities important to all of Latvia – composer Jāzeps Vītols and poet Ojārs Vācietis.

From Harijs Grāvis' book “Adzele – Gaujiena”: “The new castle was built from dolomite stones and brick masonry on a steep bank near the old manor house in an east-west direction. Construction began after 1818, and by 1827 the main structure of the castle was completed, with rooms arranged for the baron’s family needs.

Juliuss Voldemārs von Wulff began with the reconstruction of the initial main structure of the new castle – the second phase of construction began, and the castle’s reconstruction was completed around 1850.

The Gaujiena Castle was built in the late classical style, its original structure was redesigned by adding symmetrical side risalits (a part of the building that protrudes forward).”

During the first period of independence, after the 1920 agrarian land reform, the von Wulff family’s manor was expropriated by the Latvian state and offered to composer Jāzeps Vītols. From Jāzeps Vītols' book “Memories of My Life”: “Summer of 1922 arrived. The Land Management Department offered several properties. Although we had a choice between the former Baron Wulff’s castle with its many rooms and some other manor's stone building, we chose the two-story wooden house of the brewery manager.”

Thus, the representatives of Gaujiena parish, Voldemārs Bišers and Jānis Jaunozols, signed a temporary agreement with the Ministry of Education on May 22, 1922, by which the castle building was handed over for the opening of a secondary school. Gaujiena Secondary School was opened on September 3, 1922.

The time of Gaujiena Castle Secondary School is also associated with the name of poet Ojārs Vācietis, who once studied here. In 1948, after finishing Trapenes Elementary School, he continued his studies at Gaujiena Secondary School. Later Ojārs Vācietis writes:

                             “… Here every hillock and every spruce

                                 put something in my travel bag.”

Ninety-eight years the castle has served educational needs. Five years ago, the school was moved from the castle to other premises.

Thanks to history teacher Harijs Grāvis, on October 29, 1968, a local history museum was opened in the school, and a school history exhibition was set up. This is the result of Harijs Grāvis' lifetime work and his greatest satisfaction. The museum doors in the castle remain open to both visitors and locals.

This year, we will celebrate our Gaujiena Castle!

On August 15th from 19:00 to 23:00 the castle doors will be open for celebrations, and during the festivities, the castle rooms and museum will be on display. Everyone will enjoy concerts, historical dances, theater, and music. You might even meet the Wulff couple, Jāzeps Vītols with his wife Annija, and Ojārs Vācietis! There will also be a cake parade where the delicacies can be enjoyed on-site with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

On August 16th from 11:00 to 15:00 the castle and museum can be visited with a guide.

At 19:00 at the castle, we invite you to the concert performance "On a Single String," featuring outstanding actors Jānis Paukštello and Gundars Grasbergs, as well as the charming singer Ineta Rudzīte.

At 22:00, the group “Ginc un Es” invites you to the festive Ball, but the greatest gift for the event visitors will be video projection drawings on the facade of Gaujiena Manor Castle with a historical narrative. See you at the celebrations!